RENNES, France -- Oct. 6, 2015 -- Thomson Video Networks today announced that NOS has pioneered Ultra HD (UHD) broadcasting in Portugal with the launch of two trial UHD channels leveraging the HEVC compression capabilities of the ViBE(R) VS7000 encoding/transcoding platform. NOS, Portugal's leading communications and entertainment group, has deployed the ViBE VS7000, together with Thomson Video Networks' MPEG stream server, to deliver HEVC-encoded UHD content for its own NOS UHD 4K service as well as a 4K channel for satellite operator Hispasat. With the new service, NOS is the first Portuguese provider to deliver original UHD content to cable subscribers.

"As the recognized global leader in HEVC compression solutions, Thomson Video Networks is the ideal partner to support our UHD TV launch," said Alexandre Martins, residential product director at NOS. "The ViBE VS7000 is a field-proven implementation of the emerging HEVC compression standard, designed to lower operators' OPEX for delivery of a wide range of convergent TV services. With the ViBE VS7000 and MPEG stream server solutions, we've been able to deliver cutting-edge UHD services in a very competitive environment and provide our subscribers with the ultimate viewing experience."

NOS is the leader in pay TV, next-generation broadband services, and cinema exhibition and distribution in Portugal. With the new service, NOS has launched its own 24-hour 4K channel for delivery of exclusive UHD versions of its own popular programs, such as NOS Primavera Sound, NOS em Palco, NOS Alive, North Canyon, and Special Editions Bodyboard. The Hispasat 4K channel broadcasts short videos and documentaries about nature as well as cultural content, including a visit to the Prado Museum. For both channels, the ViBE VS7000 provides 4K file transcoding in HEVC and the transport stream server plays out the HEVC-encoded UHD content.

"We congratulate NOS for ushering in the UHD broadcasting era in Portugal. Until now, 4K broadcasts there were very experimental and offered very restricted access, but NOS is the first to bring the dazzling picture quality of UHD into the mainstream and into the homes of Portuguese viewers," said Eric Louvet, vice president, worldwide sales and field services, Thomson Video Networks. "In deploying our solution for the new UHD services, NOS is reflecting its commitment to staying on the cutting edge of HEVC compression innovation."

Blackmagic Design announced today its products were used for the live production of SOFT DARTS PROFESSIONAL TOUR JAPAN, including ATEM 2 M/E Production Studio 4K, which has become the center of the tour’s live workflow. Production included shooting, recording, streaming to YouTube and video distribution throughout the venue of games performed on the main stage, and was also done using ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel, Micro Studio Camera 4K, HyperDeck Studio Mini and Video Assist 4K.

Chameleon, Bannister Lake's data aggregation and graphics management solution is introducing dramatic new enhancements with a strong focus on election data. Within its election module, Chameleon Version 10 improves how election data is ingested and managed. The new release expands the ability to enter manual election results where data feeds may not be available. This is particularly useful in less populated districts or in jurisdictions where it is not practical to organize a real-time results feed. The new functionality also provides an important failsafe in situations where a data feed may have stopped working.

SMPTE®, the organization whose standards work has supported a century of advances in entertainment technology and whose membership spans the globe, today announced that the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) plugfest, held Oct. 18-19 in Hollywood, California, marked another milestone in the development of the IMF family of international standards (SMPTE ST 2067), with more than 48 participants making progress toward interoperability.